At the age of 35, Evan Ellingson, who gained notoriety for his role in the 2009 film My Sister’s Keeper, passed away.
The coroners’ division of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reports that Ellingson was discovered deceased in his Fontana, California, home at 11:31 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.
It is unknown what caused him to die. Monday morning is set aside for an autopsy.
TMZ broke the story first, claiming that Ellingson’s father informed the publication that the actor battled addiction and passed away at a sober living facility.
As Jesse in the 2009 cancer drama My Sister’s Keeper, which starred Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, Abigail Breslin, and Jason Patric, was one of Ellingson’s most memorable parts.
On CSI: Miami, Ellingson, who hasn’t been on screen in more than a decade, portrayed Lt. Horatio Caine’s son, played by David Caruso. He also appeared on 24 as Kiefer Sutherland’s nephew in the Jack Bauer role.
Born and bred in La Verne, California, the actor is described in his IMDb bio as having three brothers. He was “discovered at a skate park & was asked not only to skate for the Vans PeeWee team, yet to do a commercial for the Vans Company.”
According to his resume, he was “asked to do a series of short films playing an individual that was written specifically for him” because of his “unmistakable charisma and talent,” which helped him gain more jobs in the future.
“I never had the same [childhood] experience with my friends,” Ellingson said to The Philippine Star in 2009 while promoting CSI: Miami. Never have I spent more time with them. But I had a really great childhood. I was occupied with my favorite activities.”
He stated, “I had no regrets since I found my passion in acting early on.”